JLC3DP Blog

Design Tips

How to 3D Print Large Objects Beyond Your Printer’s Size

Every maker hits this moment. You design something ambitious. A full-size prop. A car interior panel. A furniture joint. A mold that actually fits the real part. You hit “slice”… and then reality shows up. The model is bigger than your build plate. That’s the big challenge of going big. 3D printing large objects sounds simple until you try it. Your printer doesn’t suddenly grow just because your idea did. And scaling a model isn’t the same as successfully 3D printing at large scale. Once parts get big......

Mar 13, 2026

Cost & ROI

Metal 3D Printing Cost Explained: Why Prices Are So High

Why Is Metal 3D Printing So Expensive? If you’ve ever checked a Metal 3D Printing Price and thought, “Why is this part more expensive than CNC?”, you’re not alone. The truth is, the cost of metal 3D printing isn’t just about material. It’s a layered pricing model built around machine time, engineering review, powder handling, and post-processing, especially for processes like SLM 3D Printing Service. Unlike plastic printing, metal additive manufacturing involves: · Inert gas chambers • High-powered fi......

Mar 10, 2026

Resins

Best Resin Printer for Miniatures in 2026

Why Resin 3D Printers Are Best for Miniatures If you’re chasing crisp facial features, sharp armor edges, or runes that are actually readable, resin is really the only option. Miniatures demand extreme detail at a tiny scale, and that’s exactly where resin printing shines. With layer heights as low as 0.025 mm, layer lines all but disappear, letting facial expressions, chainmail, and surface textures stay sharp instead of turning into a soft plastic blur. Resin also delivers strong repeatability. Once......

Jan 30, 2026

PBF

Powder Bed Fusion 3D Printing: How It Works

The Fine Art of Printing With Powder (source: ScienceDirect) Most people picture 3D printing as a spool of filament feeding into a nozzle or a vat of liquid resin curing under UV light. But powder bed 3D printing works differently. Instead of extruding material or curing liquid, it spreads ultra-thin layers of powder across a build platform and selectively fuses or binds them into solid parts, one layer at a time. This approach opens the door to materials and performance levels that filament and stand......

Mar 03, 2026

Metal Printing

Metal Polishing Processes Compared: 3D Printed vs Cast vs Machined Parts

What Is the Main Difference in Polishing 3D Printed, Cast, and Machined Metal Parts? The main difference lies in the starting surface condition and internal structure of the parts. Polishing metal parts requires a removal process to address defects related to the casting process. Cast parts need polishing to normalize their inherently uneven surface, while polishing 3D metal parts refines a geometrically controlled but rough surface. In other words, the goal of polishing changes depending on how the p......

Jan 14, 2026

Industrial & Manufacturing

CES 2026 Hardware Trends: How Manufacturing Is Shaping AI and Robotics

CES 2026 Hardware Innovation Trends: From Prototypes to Industrial-Grade Manufacturing CES is widely regarded as the world’s leading technology showcase—and a real indicator of where global hardware innovation is heading. In 2026, CES revealed a clear shift: innovation is no longer about impressive demos. It’s about building products that can survive real-world environments, pass functional testing, and move toward scalable manufacturing. According to official data from the CES 2026 Innovation Awards:......

Feb 26, 2026